Mountaineering teams in dispute over Mount Everest 'summit certificates'

Mountaineering teams have become embroiled in a dispute over whose expedition to conquer Mount Everest was more successful, as one group accused the other of using photoshopped pictures to secure 'summit certificates'.

Mount everest. tibet. nepal: Everest photoshop row

The two groups from Pune in Western India launched their expedition earlier this year. The larger team, known as Giripremi, which is affiliated with the Indian Mountaineering Federation, launched their eight-man mission in March.

Their local rivals, Sagarmatha Giryarohan Sanstha, who bill themselves as "India's First Cost Effective Mt Everest Expedition", launched their bid a few weeks later aiming to set a new world record for the lowest cost Everest bid – 1.6 Crore (around £200,000) for eight members.

On its website ahead of their bid, the group declared: "We've assembled a winning team to fulfil this challenge. Nothing is left to chance and the team is ready to go. We will be triumphant in getting this record."

While all eight from Giripremi reached the summit, a row has now broken out over how many members of Sagarmatha Giryarohan Sanstha were successful. The group claims all three of its lead climbers, Shahiri Tapkir, Anand Bansode and Sagar Palkar reached the summit, but according to their own Sherpas only one, Mr Tapkir, got to the top.

A successful expedition means hero status for the climbers in India and better chances of raising sponsorship for future projects.

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